Samarkand, Uzbekistan – September 23, 2026 -- Timur Turlov, a candidate for FIDE President, has proposed that Ukraine nominate its own candidate for FIDE Vice President should his ticket win the September 26 election in Samarkand.
Turlov calls for a dedicated Ukrainian voice in FIDE leadership
Turlov, running alongside five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand, made the proposal in a post on X, describing Ukraine as "one of the world's great chess nations" with generations of players and coaches. He argued that FIDE "cannot operate in isolation from what is happening in the world" and that Ukraine "should have its own voice in the room when decisions are discussed and made."
Podolyak signals readiness to join a reformed FIDE team
Turlov invited Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, to consider representing Ukraine within FIDE leadership. Podolyak said he supported Turlov's reform agenda and was ready to "personally join the new FIDE team," adding that he wants international federations to prioritize core sporting objectives and fair competition.
Turlov's Kazakhstan record anchors his federation-leadership pitch
Turlov has led the Kazakhstan Chess Federation since 2023 and the International School Chess Federation since 2025. FIDE reports Kazakhstan's national "Chess in Education" programme now reaches more than 1,500 schools and 60,000 students, with thousands of teachers trained. Under his tenure, Kazakhstan hosted the World Rapid and Blitz Championships and the 2023 World Championship Match in Astana.
Freedom Holding Corp. backs 2026 chess-development programmes
FIDE has partnered separately with Freedom Holding Corp., the Nasdaq-listed finance and technology business led by Turlov, on 2026 programmes supporting tournaments, players, coaches, training centers, education and talent development. Turlov's campaign platform lists digital development, chess education, financial sustainability and institutional development as core priorities.
Three tickets compete for FIDE's top post on September 26
FIDE has confirmed three presidential tickets for the General Assembly vote in Samarkand: Timur Turlov–Viswanathan Anand, Wadim Rosenstein–Gordon Tang, and Jan Henric Buettner–Malcolm Pein. Each represented Member Federation holds one vote.